Development of the electromagnetically launched expanding ring as a high‐strain‐rate test technique

Improvements to the electromagnetically launched expanding ring experiment that make the technique more reproducible, analyzable, and amenable to the rapid testing of many specimens are presented. Aspects of the design and containment of the primary solenoid, high‐voltage switching, and electromagnetic diagnostics are discussed, and a new method for launching specimens of low conductivity is described. The reproducibility of the method is demonstrated for oxygen‐free electronic (OFE)copper and tantalum rings.